[14], Ertegun and Abramson spent much of the late 1940s and early 1950s scouring nightclubs in search of talent. 1 in September 1951. In 1951, Atlantic was one of the first independent labels to press records in the 45rpm single format. Wexler recalled, "We didn't pay for the mastersJim paid for the masters and then he would send us a finished tape and we would put it out. Despite all the resistance, Kalodner's belief in Foreigner was totally vindicated by the group's massive success their 1976 debut single "Feels Like The First Time" reached #4 on the Billboard singles chart, their self-titled debut album sold more than 4 million copies, and the subsequent singles from the album kept the group in the US charts continuously for more than a year. 4 R&B hit with "Tweedlee Dee", but a rival version by Georgia Gibbs went to No. Harry Anger and Arnie Geller mentored me during my Polydor days, but ultimately it was Doug Morris who really taught me the business, she says of the longtime Atlantic president who became the only person to be CEO of all three major label groups. Cotillion was also responsible for launching the career of Luther Vandross, who recorded for the label as part of the trio Luther. The market for these records exploded during late 1953 and early 1954 as R&B hits crossed over to the mainstream (i.e. Atlantic Records has named Keith "Keefa" Parker Vice President of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Parker most recently served as an executive producer on Roddy Ricch's No.1 album, Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial. 7). WEA was also used as a label for distributing the company's artists outside North America. By 1979 Genesis drummer/singer Phil Collins was considering branching out into a solo career. In April of that year, Miriam (Abramson) Bienstock reported to Billboard that Atlantic was selling 75% of its singles as 45s. Both albums went platinum, and it was the first rap album to go platinum for WEA Distribution. [85], The building was owned by the family of Sheldon Vogel, the chief financial officer of Atlantic at the time. He saw something more in there that wasn't coming out before. 2005 - Jerry & Bob Greenberg form the Rainbow Bar & Grill Expansion Group. Since they jointly held more stock, Ahmet was obliged to agree to the sale. And Julie Greenwald is a great role model since she is an executive without peer., Although formats and platforms and so much else about the music business has changed over the years, the basics of breaking a song remain the same (to paraphrase a legendary Atlantic artist). In January of 1996, she was named Executive Vice President. Wexler exploded and replied the payment would mean the end of their relationship with the label. In 1966 Atlantic signed a licensing deal with Polydor which included the band Cream, whose debut album was released by Atco in 1966. In 1968 the label issued History of Rhythm and Blues, Volume 4 in stereo. Atlantic Records. When interviewed in 1990 for Ertegun's biography, Wexler declined to discuss the matter, but Ertegun claimed these negotiations were a plan to buy him out. Jones was an accounting major at Maryland University who planned to be a doctor . Atlantic Business Interiors. Over the next four years he was instrumental in signing a string of major acts including Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins. The song sold 100,000 copies in the first month and became a million-seller. "Dream Lover" reached No. Ertegun and Wexler knew of the group's leader, Jimmy Page, through The Yardbirds, and their favorable opinion was reinforced by Dusty Springfield, who recommended Atlantic sign the band. Atlantic offered $25,000 which, Ertegun later noted, "was all the money we had then. He came to my office every day to discuss the development of our records and would make me study sales reports, imparting that sales was the way to truly judge if a record was real. The deal closed in early 2004, consolidating Elektra Records and Atlantic into one label operated in the eastern United States. [13] In its early years, Atlantic concentrated on modern jazz[11][14][3] although it released some country and western and spoken word recordings. Irene Sourlis is a Vice President, A&R Administration at Atlantic Records based in New York, New York. His early releases were unsuccessful, and Abramson planned to drop him. Leiber and Stoller backed down, but the relationship ended anyway. By 1956 the 45 had surpassed the 78 in sales for singles. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. In April of that year, Miriam (Abramson) Bienstock reported to Billboard that Atlantic was selling 75% of its singles as 45s. Jeff Levin started at Atlantic in 2010 and has since A&R'd a wide range of artists across the Warner . NEW YORK, NY-- (Marketwired - Dec 2, 2014) - Maureen Kenny has joined Atlantic Records as Senior Vice President of A&R, based at the company's Burbank office. Ahmet Ertegun had first seen them perform in the Midwest on one of their early American tours, and it was on this occasion that he also became an ardent fan of their drummer/vocalist, Phil Collins. Big Joe Turner's April 1954 song "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was a No. [7] Miriam gained a reputation for toughness. Wexler was a fan of Burke's and had long wanted to sign him so when Burke told Wexler his contract with his former label had expired Wexler replied: "You're home. Wexler lost his temper and threw Geffen out of his office, but Geffen called Ahmet Ertegun the next day, and Ertegun persuaded Geffen to convince Clive Davis at Columbia to let Atlantic sign Crosby, Stills & Nash.[5]. [32] He was appointed vice-president and purchased 13% of the company's stock. The trio was formed following a chance meeting between members of three leading 1960s pop groups Stephen Stills, David Crosby of The Byrds and Graham Nash of The Hollies. 1, Pop No. Juliette Jones of Atlantic Records is a self-proclaimed "accidental executive.". [24][25], Atlantic was one of the first independent labels to make recordings in stereo: Dowd used a portable stereo recorder which ran simultaneously with the studio's existing mono recorder. Charles signed a contract with ABC-Paramount that included higher royalties, a production deal, profit-sharing, and eventual ownership of his master tapes. The demo tapes of the songs that eventually became their debut album (including the song "Feels Like The First Time") were famously rejected by almost every major label, including Atlantic although their tenacious manager Bud Prager later revealed that, in retaliation for a previous bad deal, he deliberately didn't approach CBS ("They had screwed me out of a lot of money, so I figured I would screw them out of Foreigner. 2 on the pop chart. Yes signed with Atlantic in 1969, around the same time Squire was breaking in with the label that would name him president by 1974, making him (at 32) the youngest to pull off the feat. "Yakety Yak" became Atlantic's first No. Wexler told Ertegun if he refused, the deal would be done without him. Atlantic Records was founded in September 1947 in New York City and incorporated in October 1947 with Abramson as president, Etregun vice-president in charge A&R, production and promotion. [9] When interviewed in 2009, she attributed her reputation to the company's chronic cash-flow shortage: " most of the problems we had with artists were that they wanted advances, and that was very difficult for us we were undercapitalized for a long time. Although the extended length of much of their material made it somewhat difficult to promote the band with single releases, their live prowess gained them an avid following and their albums were hugely successful their third LP The Yes Album (1971), which featured the debut of new guitarist Steve Howe, became their first big hit, reaching #4 in the UK and just scraping onto the chart in the US at #40. Greenberg was then signing artists and overseeing the company on a daily basis. The first song Wexler produced with Burke was "Just Out of Reach", which became a big hit in September 1961. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. "[58], The deal to distribute Satellite's "Last Night" by The Mar-Keys on the Satellite label marked the first time Atlantic began marketing outside tracks on a non-Atlantic label. The kids won't know where it is you've got to put extra drums on it." 1 Rock & Roll Restaurant on Sunset Strip in Hollywood. The breaking point came when they asked for a producer's royalty. Michael Kyser named President of Black Music at Atlantic in US February 3, 2011 By Music Business Worldwide Michael Kyser has been appointed as the first-ever President of Black Music for the Atlantic Records Group. [22] Their records created some controversy: the suggestive "Such A Night" was banned by radio station WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan, and "Honey Love" was banned in Memphis, Tennessee[23] but both reached No. That streak has continued over the years, particularly with the remarkably consistent current regime of co-chairs Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald, who have steered the ship since 2004. Satellite was renamed Stax after the owners, Stewart and Axton. Look Smart Article[permanent dead link] 1), "Baby, I Love You" (Soul No. MTB handled tribute bands Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin tribute band), Rolling the Stones (The Rolling Stones tribute band), ABBACADABRA (ABBA tribute band), Bonfire (AC/DC tribute band), Bella Donna (Stevie Nicks tribute band), The Long Run (Eagles tribute band), Fan Halen (Van Halen tribute band) and others. By 1956 the 45 had surpassed the 78 in sales for singles. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ahmet Ertegun served as founding chairman until his death on December 14, 2006, at age 83.[4]. The irony was further compounded by the fact that Gabriel scored a US #1 hit with the R&B-influenced single "Sledgehammer", which featured the legendary Memphis Horns, and which Gabriel later described as "my chance to sing like Otis Redding. ")[76] Prager persisted with Atlantic, even though their A&R department and label President Jerry Greenberg repeatedly rejected Foreigner; it was Kalodner's dogged belief in the group (and a live audition) that finally convinced Greenberg to allow Kalodner to sign them and take them on as his personal project. 2 in the US and No. "The Record Man: Ahmet Ertegun, Founder of Atlantic Records", "Warner Music Slashes Jobs, Ousts Bigwigs", "Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun dies", "Rock & Roll Founding Father Ahmet Ertegun Dies at 83", "Atlantic Puts 256 Stories on a Pair Of 10-In. Jerry L. Greenberg is an American music executive, who at 32, was the youngest president of any major record company in the recording industry and received that title in 1974 as President of Atlantic Records. [40], Atlantic played a major role in popularizing the genre that Jerry Wexler dubbed rhythm & blues, and it profited handsomely. "[79], Although his close friendship with Ertegun helped Collins launch his solo career, the fact that he eventually signed to Atlantic in the US was apparently as much by luck as by design. [56] The deal included a $5000 payment against a five-year option on all other records. His agent David Geffen went to Wexler to ask for Stills to be released from his Atlantic contract because Geffen wanted Stills' new group to sign with Columbia. Although Leiber considered dropping the matter, Stoller pressed Atlantic for payment. Join to view profile Atlantic Records. Cotillion also released the triple-albums soundtrack of the Woodstock festival film in 1970. During 1968 Atlantic established a new subsidiary label, Cotillion Records. Jan 15 2023. Some acts on the Atlantic roster in this period were British (including Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Yes, Bad Company and Phil Collins) and this was largely due to Ertegun. [52], Atlantic was doing so well in early 1959 that some scheduled releases were held back, and the company enjoyed two successive months of gross sales of over $1 million that summer, thanks to hits by The Coasters, The Drifters, LaVern Baker, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, and Clyde McPhatter. His recordings for Atlantic and Stax influenced pop music. Union College. From Ertegun he learned how to treat musicians.[73]. Kalodner built his reputation by signing acts that other labels had turned down, and perhaps the most significant example of his achievements in this area was his championing of the Anglo-American band Foreigner. Ertegun started lifelong grudges against Leiber and Stoller, and his relationship with Wexler was damaged. 9), "Respect" (Soul and Pop No. The announcement was made today by Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman . Staff engineer Tom Dowd recalled, "Tokyo Rose was the kindest name some people had for her"[8] and Doc Pomus described her as "an extraordinarily vitriolic woman". Ertegun denied this was intentional. In July 1954, Wexler and Ertegun wrote a prescient article for Cash Box devoted to what they called "cat music"; the same month, Atlantic had its first major "crossover" hit on the Billboard pop chart when the "Sh-Boom" by The Chords reached No. The Head of Enabling Services domains includes but is not limited to Finance Systems, Supply Chain Systems, Human Capital Management Systems, Legal systems, and other miscellaneous applications. "[7] The label's office in the Ritz Hotel in Manhattan proved too expensive, so they moved to a room in the Hotel Jefferson. [92], That year also saw Atlantic reach a milestone for major record labels. The mid-1960s British Invasion led Atlantic to change its British distributor. Reacting to the acrimonious breakup of his first marriage, he had begun writing and recording new songs at home, which were considerably different from the material he had been recording with Genesis. Atlantic Records. "Security") in 1982 to wide acclaim, and Gabriel scored a minor US hit with the single "Shock The Monkey". Stereo versions of Ray Charles "What'd I Say" and "Night Time is the Right Time" were included on the Atlantic anthology The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm & Blues Recordings, 19521959. In addition to signing acts Jerry has worked with some of the greatest artists in music including, AC/DC, Aretha Franklin, Bad Company, Bee Gees, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Dr. John, Dusty Springfield, Eagles, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Yes, and Michael Jackson. Hot on the heels of the huge success of CSNY and Led Zeppelin, British band Yes rapidly established themselves as one of the leading groups in the burgeoning progressive rock genre, and their success also played a significant part in establishing the primacy of the long-playing album as the major sales format for rock music in the 1970s. [50], Leiber and Stoller worked briefly for United Artists, then started Red Bird with George Goldner. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Playing them back required a turntable with a special tone-arm fitted with dual needles; it was not until around 1958 that the single stylus microgroove system (in which the two stereo channels were cut into either side of a single groove) became the industry standard. February 4, 2011 2:39am. 3 on the pop chart, selling over one million copies. 2013 to Present - Greenberg forms new EDM label with partners from Ibiza, Spain. In 2004, Atlantic and its sister label Elektra were merged into the Atlantic Records Group. Angered by his unceremonious ejection from Atlantic, he alerted Geffen to Collins' availability, but to his chagrin, neither Geffen nor any other US label showed interest; He then alerted Virgin Records boss Richard Branson, who immediately contacted Collins' manager Tony Stratton Smith and signed Collins to Virgin in the UK as a solo act. As part of the negotiations, Collins and his bandmates wanted their own 'vanity' label, Duke Records, but according to Kalodner, and despite Ertegun's personal interest, the group's demands, and their relatively modest performance in the US made Atlantic executives ambivalent about the deal. [26], Beginning in 1954, Atlantic created or acquired several subsidiary labels, the first being Cat Records. Ertegun recommended Mo Ostin to succeed Maitland as Warner Bros. Records president. During his short time at Atlantic, Spector produced music for LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown, Jean DuShon, and Billy Storm. Atlantic's early stereo recordings included "Lover's Question" by Clyde McPhatter, "What Am I Living For" by Chuck Willis, "I Cried a Tear" by LaVern Baker, "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin, "Yakety Yak" by the Coasters and "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles. He learned his trade at Trey Records, a label in California owned by Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood and distributed by Atlantic. 1). In 1962 folk music was booming and the label came very close to signing Peter, Paul & Mary; although Wexler and Ertegun pursued them vigorously the deal fell through at the last minute and they later discovered music publisher Artie Mogull had introduced their manager Albert Grossman to Warner Bros. executive Herman Starr, who had made the trio an irresistible offer that gave them complete creative control over the recording and packaging of their music.[61]. He became Vice President of A&R at Atlantic, while continuing to oversee Big Beat. An after-hours jam by members of the Stax house band resulted in "Green Onions". 5), and "Think" (Soul No. Decca had refused access to its British acts, who usually appeared in the US on the London subsidiary. The soul/country & western crossover predated Ray Charles' similar venture by more than 6 months. Bell was the first African-American partner in the label.[58]. Although these were primarily 45rpm mono singles for much of the 1950s Dowd stockpiled his "parallel" stereo takes for future release. By the mid-1950s Atlantic had an informal agreement with the French label Barclay, and the two companies regularly exchanged titles, usually jazz recordings. In the 1980s she sued Atlantic for unpaid royalties; although Atlantic, which prided itself on treating artists fairly, had stopped paying royalties to some musicians. Jerry Wexler spent a majority of his time in Florida, which left Greenberg plenty of time to spend with Ahmet Ertegun, who was President of Atlantic at that time. After Crosby and Stills sang Stills' new composition "You Don't Have To Cry" that evening, Nash asked them to repeat it, and chimed in with an impromptu third harmony part. 2007 - Jerry Greenberg joins the board of MusiCares established in 1989 by The Recording Academy. He gained executive control of the label and influenced the Warner group. 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